The state already provides startup grants to public charter schools on a competitive basis based on the assessed need for a charter school in a particular area, the school’s educational goals, services to students with special needs and other factors.[42] The state should consider favoring applications for startup grants for charter schools that are opening near low-ranked schools (with a specified radius, for example). This would boost the incentive for competing schools to open near a school the state deems to be performing poorly.